‘A day in the life’ at Elomatic
Tiina Kilpi, Design Manager
Over the past six years with Elomatic, it’s amazing to look back and see how much my career has evolved As time went on, I took on more coordination responsibilities, eventually stepping into the Design Manager role three and a half years ago. It’s been an incredibly rewarding journey, and I’m proud of how much I’ve grown along the way.
Today, I lead a team of around 24 designers, and my role is as much about people as it is about projects. No two days are ever quite the same. I’m responsible for maintaining oversight of all ongoing work; every project, every process, as well as ensuring that each team is operating efficiently.
Leading with empathy
It is important for me to anticipate any potential challenges before they happen, ensure the right resources are in place, and support my team so they can focus on doing their best work. Much of my day is spent in conversations with project teams, collaborating to find solutions to any challenges, and helping my team navigate the many moving parts of big, complex projects. The day-to-day work I do is dynamic, plans often shift as new priorities arise, which keeps things fast paced, and is what makes my role so engaging.
Leading a team of this size comes with unique challenges, particularly when it comes to working with people and managing the many different personalities within a team. For me, emotional intelligence is just as important as technical knowledge. Understanding how people work, how they respond, and what kind of support they need is essential.
Creating a sense of emotional safety is a priority. I want my team to know they can rely on me, that I’ll listen to their concerns, find solutions, and give them the mental space to focus on their jobs. I see it as providing safety within the teams, so that they can leave any problems with me and feel secure in doing their work.
Building psychological safety
I also encourage the team to play an active role in building this supportive environment together. When people look out for each other, collaboration becomes easier, faster and ultimately more rewarding.
A key example of the supporting and collegiate environment we create at Elomatic was from a relationship that I’d built with a colleague who usually kept his emotions very private. Over time, we had small conversations, just a few minutes here and there, where I’d gently ask if he had ever thought about things from a different perspective. He never shared much, but years later he walked into my office and told me how much my support had helped him. Hearing that was incredibly meaningful. He had figured things out for himself but knowing that I had played even a small role in giving him the space and support to do so meant a lot. Moments like that make me grateful, because they show that my role isn’t just about delivering projects, it’s also about making a real difference to the people I work with.
When the emotional climate of the team is stable, even the toughest challenges feel achievable.
For anyone aspiring to a role like mine, especially within the maritime industry, my advice is simple: know yourself and follow the path that feels right for you. Strong social skills and emotional intelligence are crucial if you want to lead an effective and collaborative team. But you don’t have to fit anyone else’s mold – authenticity is what’s important. As a leader of a team, it’s not about knowing more than the specialists, it is about understanding your role and supporting them so they can thrive.
At Elomatic, we genuinely care about people. It feels like being part of a family — a place where wellbeing is a true priority and everyone has the space and support to focus on their work without feeling burnt out. I’m proud to be part of Elomatic and to contribute to my team’s growth and success.
Want to know more? Check out these related articles:
We succeed together
With us, you have the opportunity to work on challenging and rewarding projects in an interesting and international design environment.
We design working solutions that increase the wellbeing of people and the environment. We want to help our customers succeed by producing services throughout the life cycle of their technical products and investments.
Marine
We can serve as your partner in the design and construction of ship and offshore wind power solutions with expertise in environmental requirements.
We have extensive experience and an established role as an early adopter of new technologie